North Pole?
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Introduction.
导言表。
4 Geography.
4 地理学。
5 Why the North Pole Is Valuable.
5 北极何以可贵.
8 Who Wants the North Pole?
8谁想要北极?
11 What About the South Pole?
11 南极地区怎么样?
14 Conclusion.
14 结论。
15 Glossary.
15 词汇。
16 Introduction When you hear the words North Pole, do you think of a cold, empty place out in the middle of nowhere?
导言 闻"北极"之说后,想出一个寒冷而空之地出于地外?
Yes, it’s cold and remote, but it’s far from empty.
是的,它既冷又遥远,但远非空地。
Actually, the North Pole and the area around it—the Arctic region—are filled with natural treasures.
事实上,北极及其周围地区——北极地区——充满了自然财富。
Who should those treasures belong to— separate countries, all people, or the planet itself?
这些宝藏应该属于谁——分别的国家、所有人或地球本身?
Several countries are competing to own parts of the Arctic region beyond their own borders.
若干国家竞相在自己的边界以外拥有北极地区的一部分。
Future changes in ownership will affect not only the North Pole but all of Planet Earth.
未来所有权的变化不仅会影响北极,而且会影响整个地球。
Sea ice surrounding the North Pole is visible from outer space.
围绕北极的海冰从外太空可见.
Climate Change Earth’s climate patterns have been shifting over the past one hundred years, and average temperatures have been rising.
气候变化地球的气候模式在过去一百年中一直在变化,平均气温也一直在上升。
Most scientists agree that an important cause of higher temperatures is carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere produced by burning coal and petroleum products.
大多数科学家同意,温度升高的一个重要原因是由燃煤和石油产品所生产的地球大气中二氧化碳.
This and other gases in the atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat energy, preventing it from escaping into space.
这种气体和大气中的其他气体会困住太阳的热能,使其无法逃入太空.
As a result, the trapped heat is causing glaciers and polar ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise.
因此被困高温导致冰川和极地冰盖融化,海平面上升.
Geography The North Pole is the northernmost place on Earth—and no, there isn’t actually a pole that marks the spot!
地域 北极是地球上最北端的地方,
The North Pole is in the Arctic Ocean.
北极地处北冰洋.
It’s surrounded by sea ice, which forms the Arctic ice cap.
它被海冰所包围 形成了北极冰盖
The size of the Arctic ice cap changes during different seasons as temperatures rise and fall.
北极冰盖的大小在不同季节随着温度的升降而变化.
Overall, the Arctic ice cap has been shrinking at a rate of 3.
总体而言,北极冰盖以3.
2 percent per decade since 1981.
自1981年以来,每十年2%。
Scientists have evidence that the cause is climate change— long-term, lasting changes in Earth’s weather patterns.
科学家有证据表明,其原因是气候变化 -- -- 地球天气模式的长期和持久变化。
A Shrinking Arctic Ice Cap Each September, scientists measure the sea ice at its lowest level for the year.
每只闪烁的北极冰盖 9月,科学家以当年的最低水平测量出海冰.
The map shows the 2012 minimum level of sea ice (white) and the 1979 to 2000 average (dashed white line).
地图上显示的是2012年最低海冰平面(白地)和1979至2000年平均平地(地壳白地线).
The 2012 minimum was 49 percent below the 1979 to 2000 average minimum.
2012年的最低水平比1979至2000年的平均最低水平低49%。
Five countries surround the North Pole: Norway, Russia, Canada, the United States (because of Alaska), and Denmark (because of Greenland).
有五个国家包围了北极:挪威,俄罗斯,加拿大,美国(因为阿拉斯加)和丹麦(因为格陵兰).
The country of Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
格陵兰国是丹麦王国的一部分.
Each one owns an area that measures 200 nautical miles (230 mi.
每个区域都拥有200海里(230海里.
, or 370 km) out from its coastline.
,或370公里) 离它的海岸线。
Within those 200 nautical miles, each country or region controls the rights to resources.
在这200海里内,每个国家或地区控制着资源权。
Those resources include water and wind for energy production as well as minerals and fish.
这些资源包括用于能源生产的水和风以及矿物和鱼类。
Beyond that boundary are international waters, sometimes called the “high seas.”
在这个边界之外是国际水域,有时被称为“公海”。 “
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) sets rules about taking mineral resources from the seafloor of the high seas.
国际海底管理局制定了从公海海底取出矿物资源的规则。
The ISA is part of a United Nations agreement between countries.
国际海底管理局是联合国国家间协定的一部分。
The agreement states that international waters are supposed to benefit all people, not separate countries.
协定规定,国际水域应造福所有人,而不是单独的国家。
The United Nations The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization with representatives from almost every nation.
联合国或联合国是一个国际组织,几乎每个国家都有代表。
The UN works to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.
联合国致力于促进和平、安全和国家间合作。
Its headquarters is in New York City.
其总部位于纽约市.
Key As of early 2014, 165 countries plus the European Union had ratified, or approved, this UN agreement.
密钥 截至2014年初,165个国家和欧洲联盟已经批准或批准了这项联合国协定。
After ratification, a country has ten years to file a request if it believes it deserves any areas beyond its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
一个国家在批准《公约》后,如果认为它值得在其专属经济区以外的任何区域,则有十年的时间提出请求。
If the UN approves a country’s request, all resources in the larger area belong to that country.
如果联合国批准一个国家的请求,那么大范围内的所有资源都属于该国。
Why might a country want to expand its territory?
为什么一个国家想扩大其领土?
Greenland Canada Russia United States Carving Up the Arctic Circle KEY International borders Claim borders 200 nautical mile line EEZs Areas beyond EEZs U.
美国雕刻北极圈 国际边界 要求边界200海里的EEZs线 超过EEZs U的区域.
S.
师曰.
claim Canadian claim Danish claim Russian claim The area measuring 200 nautical miles out from each country’s coastline is called an exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
加拿大索赔 丹麦索赔 俄罗斯索赔 距离每个国家海岸线200海里的区域称为专属经济区。
Exclusive: not shared by others Economic: related to buying and selling Zone: an area with a special purpose or set of rules Beyond those EEZs, some areas in the Arctic Circle belong to no one—at least for now.
排他性:非他人分担 经济:与买卖有关 除了这些专属经济区之外,北极圈的一些地区目前还不属于任何人。
Arctic Circle Arctic Circle North Pole Norway Why the North Pole Is Valuable The Arctic region—the area north of the Arctic Circle—has a wealth of natural resources.
北极圈 北极圈 北极圈 挪威 为什么北极是有价值的 北极地区——北极圈以北地区——拥有丰富的自然资源。
One of the most important is petroleum, which includes both oil and natural gas.
最重要的之一是石油,包括石油和天然气。
Although located under the Earth’s surface, petroleum is easier to reach now than in the past because the Arctic ice cap is melting.
石油虽然位于地表之下,但现在比过去更容易得到,因为北极冰盖正在融化。
R ig ht now, the Arctic region provides about 10 percent of the world’s oil and 25 percent of its natural gas.
现在,北极地区提供了世界石油的10%和天然气的25%。
Experts estimate that an even larger supply of each may be discovered near the North Pole in the future.
专家估计,今后在北极附近可能会发现每种物质的更大供应.
No one knows how much of that supply might be located beyond the EEZs of all five countries.
没有人知道这些供应中有多少可能位于所有五个国家的专属经济区之外。
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, using petroleum-based energy causes a lot of pollution and is a main cause of climate change.
环保局表示,使用以石油为原料的能源会造成大量污染,是造成气候变化的主要原因.
Still, petroleum products are currently the main energy sources around the world.
然而,石油产品目前仍然是全世界的主要能源。
We depend on them for more than half of our energy.
我们一半以上的精力都依靠它们。
They’re nonrenewable, meaning they will run out someday—possibly as soon as forty to fifty years from now.
可能要到40到50年后,
As a result, many countries are scrambling for new supplies of petroleum.
因此,许多国家正在争夺新的石油供应。
The Arctic also contains valuable mineral deposits, including copper, coal, nickel, gold, iron, and diamonds.
北极还包含有珍贵的矿藏,包括铜,煤,镍,金,铁和钻石等.
Thawing ice is making it easier to explore for and get more of these natural resources as well.
探险冰层使得人们更容易探索和获取更多的自然资源。
Beyond natural resources, the Arctic offers the promise of new shipping routes.
除自然资源外,北极还有新的航道。
Right now, most of those routes can only be used during warmer months, when much of the sea ice melts.
现在,这些路线大多只能在更温暖的几个月内使用,此时大部分海冰会融化.
However, with continued melting, routes may be open during much more of the year.
然而,随着不断融化,一年中更多的时间里,航道可能会畅通.
More shipping routes would be helpful for business and for tracking climate change.
更多的运输路线将有助于企业和追踪气候变化。
Risky Business Obtaining natural resources in the Arctic region is riskier and more expensive than in most other parts of the globe.
风险企业 北极地区获得自然资源比全球大多数其他地区的风险更大,成本也更高。
Here’s why: • Regular equipment can’t always handle the climate.
常规设备不能总能应付气候。
Special equipment must be used (or, in some cases, developed) that can work in the extreme cold, wet conditions.
必须使用(或在某些情况下开发)能够在极端寒冷湿润条件下工作的特种装备.
remote location is expensive.
远程位置很昂贵。
remote place.
遥远的地方。
increased damage to equipment or the environment.
对设备或环境的破坏增加。
up oil spills in sea ice is much more complicated than in liquid water.
海冰中的石油溢出比液态水复杂得多。
Source: U.
资料来源:U。
S.
师曰.
Energy Information Administration Oil spills are hard to clean up.
能源信息管理局 外出出油难清.
Animals, such as this sea otter, end up coated in oil.
这种海獭等动物最终被涂入了油中.
Do You Know?
你知道吗?
The Northern Sea Route could cut a trip from Western Europe to East Asia by up to 15 days and shorten the distance from roughly 13,000 miles (21,000 km) to 8,000 miles (12,800 km).
北海道可以缩短从西欧到东亚的行程长达15天,将距离从大约13,000英里(21,000公里)缩短到8,000英里(12,800公里).
Scientists and environmental groups argue that the Arctic region is not only valuable to humans.
科学家和环境团体认为北极地区不仅对人类有价值.
It’s also valuable because of the natural environment and the wide variety of life forms it supports.
因为它所支持的自然环境和各种各样的生命形式,
These include tundra vegetation, caribou, polar bears, whales, and seals.
其中包括苔原植被、驯鹿、北极熊、鲸和海豹。
Using more Arctic resources could upset the natural environment in many ways.
利用更多的北极资源可能在许多方面破坏自然环境。
Caribou and calf graze on the autumn tundra in Arctic Canada.
加拿大北极地区秋天冻地上有卡里布和小牛草.
Unlike caribou, who live on land, polar bears spend much of their lives on the sea ice.
与生活在陆地上的驯鹿不同,北极熊将大部分生命花在了海冰上.
Who Wants the North Pole?
谁想要北极?
Four of the five countries that surround the Arctic Ocean—Norway, Russia, Canada, and Denmark (because of Greenland)—have filed requests for larger territories than they now own.
在环绕北冰洋的五个国家中,有四个国家——挪威、俄罗斯、加拿大和丹麦(因为格陵兰)——提出了比它们现在拥有的更大领土的请求。
more of the Arctic region than just their EEZ.
更多的北极地区 不只是他们的专属经济区。
In some cases, they want territory all the way to the North Pole.
在某些情况下,他们希望领土一路通向北极.
Russia’s Arctic coastline is about 4,300 miles (7,000 km) long.
俄罗斯北极海岸线长约4300英里(7,000公里).
It has the longest of any country bordering the Arctic Ocean.
它拥有北冰洋沿岸任何国家中最长的国家.
In 2007, Russia sent a small research ship to the seafloor at the North Pole.
2007年,俄罗斯向北极的海底派出了一艘小型研究船.
The ship gathered samples of soil and water from an underwater land feature called the Lomonosov Ridge.
舰只从被称作"罗蒙诺索夫岭"的水下地表地表地表采集出土壤和水的样品.
Scientists hoped to prove that the ridge is part of Russia and should belong to Russia.
科学家希望能证明山脊是俄罗斯的一部分,应该属于俄罗斯.
Ownership would give Russia the right to any natural resources found there.
所有权将赋予俄罗斯对在那里发现的任何自然资源的权利。
However, across the Arctic Ocean, the Lomonosov Ridge connects to Canada, which has the second-longest Arctic coastline.
然而,穿越北冰洋,罗蒙诺索夫海脊与加拿大相连,加拿大拥有第二长的北极海岸线.
Canada also claims this underwater mountain ridge as part of its seabed.
加拿大还声称这一水下山脊是其海底的一部分。
Denmark, too, seeks ownership of the ridge because of its relationship with Greenland.
丹麦也寻求对山脊的所有权,因为它与格陵兰的关系。
Canada and the United States disagree about ownership of another area—the Beaufort Sea, which is north of both western Canada and Alaska.
加拿大和美国对另一个区域——博福特海的所有权有分歧,该海在加拿大西部和阿拉斯加以北.
All these disputes have to do with mineral rights as well as control of shipping routes.
所有这些争端都涉及采矿权以及航运路线的控制。
Greenland (Denmark) Alaska (USA) Canada North Pole Russia EUROPE Lomonosov Ridge Beaufort Sea Chukchi Sea East Siberian Sea Laptev Sea Kara Sea Barents Sea White Sea Baffin Bay Greenland Sea Denmark Strait ARCTIC OCEAN The North Pole Neighborhood The bright blue on the map indicates shallower water and the dark blue is deep water.
格陵兰(丹麦) 阿拉斯加(美国) 加拿大 北极 欧洲 洛莫诺索夫山脊 博福特海 西伯利亚东部海 Laptev 海运 卡拉 巴伦支海白 格陵兰湾 丹麦海海峡 ACTIC OCEAN 北极邻国 地图上明亮的蓝色表示更浅的水,而深蓝色为深水.
The Lomonosov Ridge—the bright blue line just left of the North Pole—is 1,110 miles (1,800 km) long.
罗蒙诺索夫山脊——北极刚刚留下的明亮的蓝线——有1,110英里(1,800公里)长.
Russia, Norway, and possibly other nations are also interested in expanding their territories for military purposes.
俄罗斯、挪威以及可能还有其他国家也有兴趣为军事目的扩大其领土。
They are worried that they might someday need to defend their Arctic resources.
他们担心有一天他们需要保护北极资源。
They also want good locations for military bases in case of a war between Eastern and Western Hemisphere countries.
他们还希望在东半球国家和西半球国家发生战争时建立军事基地。
Arctic routes would shorten travel distances for military planes and ships to reach their targets.
北极航道将缩短军用飞机和船只达到目标的旅行距离。
No decisions have been made yet about countries’ requests to own more of the Arctic region.
尚未就各国要求拥有更多北极区域的问题作出决定。
Each country believes it has good reasons to expand its territory.
每个国家认为,它有充分的理由扩大其领土。
The disputes continue to set the countries at odds with each other.
争端继续使各国相互矛盾。
Might there be a different approach to the changing Arctic region?
对不断变化的北极地区是否有不同的处理办法?
Do You Know?
你知道吗?
The Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland are the homeland of native peoples, mainly the Inuit (formerly called Eskimos).
加拿大阿拉斯加和格陵兰的北极地区是原住民的家园,主要是因努伊特人(前称爱斯基摩人).
Close relatives live in Russia.
近亲居住在俄罗斯.
These people have lived in the region (originally in Alaska and later east of there) for at least four thousand years.
这些人在这一地区居住了至少四千年(原名阿拉斯加和后来的东部).
What About the South Pole?
南极怎么样?
The South Pole, at the other end of Earth’s axis, is also a place of extreme cold.
位于地轴另一端的南极也是极寒之地.
Unlike the North Pole, however, it’s on a huge landmass— Antarctica, which is large enough to be called a continent.
但与北极不同的是,它位于巨大的陆地上——南极洲,南极洲面积足够大,可以被称作大陆.
Since 1956, the United States has had a research station at the South Pole.
1956年起,美国在南极设有研究站.
Researchers study glaciers, Earth’s atmosphere, outer space, and more.
研究人员研究冰川,地球大气层,外太空等.
Discoveries benefit all countries, not just the United States.
发现有利于所有国家,而不仅仅是美国。
An international agreement prevents any country from owning Antarctica or using its resources.
一项国际协定禁止任何国家拥有南极洲或利用其资源。
The continent is set aside for scientific research and peaceful purposes only.
非洲大陆仅供科学研究与和平用途。
No military activity is permitted there.
不允许在那里进行军事活动。
Should those same guidelines be applied to the Arctic region?
这些指导方针是否应适用于北极地区?
A 165-foot (50 m) dome covers the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica.
一个165英尺(50米)的圆顶覆盖了南极洲的阿蒙森-斯科特南极站.
Conclusion Fifty or one hundred years from now, who will own the Arctic region, including the North Pole?
五十或一百年后,北极地区,包括北极,将由谁拥有?
Which path will win: peaceful cooperation or competition for control?
哪条路会赢:和平合作还是争夺控制权?
Which direction do you think the Arctic countries should choose?
你认为北极国家应该选择哪个方向?
A changing climate has changed our view of the Arctic region.
气候变化改变了我们对北极地区的看法。
As the region thaws and natural resources there become more available, countries are looking to the far north for new energy resources.
随着该地区日益融化,自然资源更加可用,各国正向最北端寻找新的能源。
In the years to come, as petroleum is likely to become much scarcer, this interest will only intensify.
在今后几年里,由于石油可能更加稀缺,这种兴趣只会加剧。
The countries that want to expand their areas of control in the Arctic region face important decisions.
想要在北极地区扩大控制区的国家面临重要决策.
They need to consider economic, military, and other national concerns.
它们需要考虑经济、军事和其他国家的关切。
They also need to take into account the well-being of all people, other life forms, and the planet as a whole.
它们还需要考虑到所有人、其他生命形式和整个地球的福祉。
Should anybody own the top of the world?
有人会拥有世界之巅吗?